Trisha Faye Y.

Pasay
BSN 2-A

My Personal Moral Development of Morality

Every day we are tested as individuals to make the right choice. How we view ourselves as
individuals and how others view us are directly correlated to our moral decision-making. Our sense of who
we are is an ever-changing response to the world of interpersonal experience. To be self-aware is to
understand and accept whom one becomes. It encompasses our journey, and experiences, which have
merged to help create the person we become. As a rational being, it would be impossible for me to fully
comprehend my ethical and moral development without reflecting on my experiences, influences, and
interactions.

Ethical moral dilemmas are situations in which there is a difficult choice to be made between two
or more options, neither of which resolves the situation in a manner that is consistent with accepted ethical
guidelines. What makes these questions dilemmas is an individual’s definition of right and wrong or good
and bad. However, in a time when many question our national moral character, pondering what to do in
various situations can be a positive exercise preparing an individual for worst- and best-case scenarios.
Upon answering the ethical moral dilemma personality test, it was revealed that my ethics falls commonly
under what is called utilitarianism. This means that when confronted with ethical dilemmas I am most likely
to maximize the greater good for the majority of people that are affected by my actions. Greater good
essentially means happiness or pleasure according to this utilitarian perspective. Therefore, how I deem
what is right and wrong is based on what decision optimizes happiness.

In terms of moral development, the result was that I am at stage 6- Universal Principles. Morality
at stage 6 is conceptualized by respecting and treating all justly and impartially. All people are treated with
dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, spirituality, orientation, viewpoint, ability, age, etc. There is
an unwavering intention to defend these principles of justice and equality in the face of society and laws
that do not conform to this personal set of moral guidelines. In Kohlberg 's stage 6 of moral development,
I identify with basing my principles and moral values on “equality and worth of all living things
(Kohlberg)”. I definitely think all individuals are valuable and are of equal importance and deserve their
individual liberties. As a whole, if the liberty of each person isn't taken into consideration, it will be a great
setback for humanity. The need to consider the inherent rights of everyone is found all throughout history.

In taking up the Morality Test, it was revealed that I am a person with morals. Personally, I try to
hold myself to very high standards of integrity and ethical behavior, and I try to consider the ethical
dimension of my choices. Morality and ethics have been a significant part of my life during my time as a
child learning how to live ethically from the people I looked up to and through the church activities. Self-
reflection is a part that has made me a moral person and has helped me develop my ethical code. The act of
looking back on the choices I have made in particularly difficult situations is the most effective way of
developing a strong moral code in my opinion. The more time I have spent looking back on my actions the
more confident I have felt about my decisions the next time a similar situation has arisen. This has been
very important to me when I look at some of the situations where I do not believe I acted in a moral fashion.
 Moral courage involves the willingness to speak out and do that which is right in the face of forces
that would lead a person to act in some other way. Developing will and moral courage involves developing
self-control. It includes nurturing the ability to stick to actions, thoughts, and behavior, which lead to moral
improvement and success. It encompasses endowing the inner strength to focus all the energy on a moral
goal and persevere until it is accomplished. To achieve moral courage, I must repeatedly do acts that exhibit
moral courage and will. Practice makes perfect. If one wishes to nurture the moral courage and will in him,
he must strive doing the acts that manifest them whenever opportunity allows it. In turn, I must avoid deeds
that show lack of moral courage and will. This involves evading acts that show irresponsibility, cowardice,
apathy, rashness, imprudence, ill will, and wickedness.

Moral character comprises the whole physical and mental aspects of who people are. The people,
who were willing to explore the recesses of themselves to find who they truly are, know what is right and
wrong for them. Moral character is formed by one's actions. The habits, actions, and emotional responses
of the person of good character all are united and directed toward the moral and the good. In order to be of
good character, one must know the good, act in morally good ways, and be disposed and inclined toward
the good through the development of virtues.